Football: Late goal for Queens denies Coagh all three points

In the end Coagh had to settle for a point after going down to ten men after newcomer Ian Todd was yellow carded for the second time.

In the first half, Coagh had a penalty brilliantly saved by the Queen’s goalkeeper Declan Brown and luck deserted the Tyrone side as Stuart Forrest hobbled off and McGeown got a straight red in a wild second half.

Coagh started the match without the injured Mattie Kempton, Stephen Glasgow, Mark Drennan, Andrew Kelso and Lee Smith. Glen Clarke was unavailable while Andy Smith was suspended.

Manager Andy Smith brought in Dermot McGuckin, Ryan Ferry, Terence O’Brien and Mark Taylor to the starting line but was forced to start the match on the back foot.

Queen’s pushed for the early goal through Ryan Murphy, Mark Prenter and James Lavery but all shooting off target.

It took to the 26th minute before Coagh started to make a match of it. Jason Ferry’s shot was an easy take for Brown but Thornton’s header grazed the cross bar moments later as Coagh looked for the opener.

Queens should have scored on the 34th minute but a wonder-save from William Hassan stopped Owen Beggs goal mouth shot reaching the back of the net. Coagh came storming back and referee Diarmuid Harrigan who was making his debut at this level pointed to the spot after a foul on Mark Taylor.

Sean Heneghan’s powerful penalty shot was deflected off the bar by Brown and clear of goal. Near the end of the half Ian Todd received his first yellow for a foul on James Lavery.

Coagh’s Terence O’Brien surprise shot from the kick off nearly caught Declan Brown off guard but the home side came storming back with Prenter going close.

Coagh forced a corner after Mark Taylor saw his shot defected out. From the corner Forrest’s ball travelled just too far and out of danger.

Just over the hour Coagh’s persistence paid off. A Dermot McGuckin 40 yard pass found Mark Taylor in space and he held his nerve to coolly slot the ball wide of the advancing Brown.

Coagh defended well but nearly caught Queens on the break twice through Todd and O’Brien. Things started to go downhill for Coagh after the 70th minute.

First, Ian Todd got his marching orders after receiving his second yellow. Moments later Stuart Forrest hobbled off, he was replaced by Ryan Smith. The home side threw everything at Coagh and equalised on the 85th minute through substitute Ciaran O’Hare. Coagh again pushed from the restart and three minutes later they were back in front.

A goal mouth melee saw Ryan Smith back heel into the net from an O’Brien pass.

The hearts of the large travelling Coagh supporters were broken when Scott McGeown’s hand ball saw him red carded and Mark Prenter levelling from the spot.